FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors - Game 1

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors – Game 1

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (0-1) | Golden State Warriors (1-0)

 

Opening night did not go as planned for the new-look Los Angeles Lakers as they suffered a loss to the Golden State Warriors 121-114.

 

It was already known that this game was going to be a close one from the start, as yet another chapter would be written in the LeBron James and Steph Curry rivalry. The game started off quick for the Lakers right from the opening tip, as James threw a lob to Deandre Jordan and within seven seconds the Lakers put up the first basket of the game off the layup from Jordan.

Each team traded scores in the first quarter, at a torrid scoring pace from each team. The Lakers built an early nine-point lead, but the Warriors went on an 11-4 run at the end of the first quarter to make the score 34-32 in favor of Los Angeles. Curry had a quiet first quarter, going just 2-for-7 from the field and netting just five points, while James was 3-of-3 with eight points including 2-of-2 from the three-point line. Anthony Davis attempted the most shots, with 10 field goals and succeeding on five of them. Russell Westbrook struggled early on going 0-2 from the field in his first Lakers quarter.

The second quarter was more of the same with both teams keeping each other honest, yet there wasn’t as much scoring activity as the first quarter. Westbrook hit a layup after going almost the entire first half without a score. After going back and forth for the first nine minutes, the advantage swung slightly to the Lakers’ favor. Davis and James hit jump shots consecutive of each other before the two teams traded baskets once more.

 

At the half, the Lakers led 59-53. James and Davis combined for 32 points in the first half, while defense from Kent Bazemore held Curry to just seven points in the half.

 

The Warriors, known historically for their game-changing third quarters, came out of the break looking to shift the momentum of the game like they have in the past. After a Westbrook layup to put Los Angeles up by seven, the Warriors scored seven straight points to tie the game and force a Lakers timeout. The Lakers responded with a seven-point run of their own, building the lead back to seven. The Warriors bench and role players stepped up and took advantage of foul trouble by the Lakers to cut the lead to 85-83 at the end of the third quarter.

Westbrook remained quiet and continued to struggle in his debut, notching just four points in the third while picking up a technical foul. James and Davis each scored just six points in the third, bringing their combined total to 44 for the game. Curry also scored six points in the third for the Warriors, with four of them coming from the free-throw line. Role players Jordan Poole and Juan Toscano-Anderson helped bring the team back into the game. Poole sank a couple of three three-pointers and Toscano-Anderson added six points to the board.

The Warriors shot out of a cannon in the fourth quarter, responding to two-pointers with three-pointers early on. Poole started the quarter with a three-point shot and was followed up by a Damion Lee three-pointer after a Dwight Howard layup. Poole hit a layup to retake the lead for the Warriors at 91-90, and turned it into an eight-point lead thanks to an 8-0 scoring run spared by Otto Porter Jr., who joined the three-point party with one of his own.

The Lakers tried their best to remain close. After a Nemanja Bjelica flagrant foul on LeBron James, Los Angeles score six straight points to cut the deficit to 100-98 with 6:25 left in the game. Curry and Avery Bradley traded threes to keep the game at a two-point lead for Golden State. Then the Warriors scored seven points in a row to build the lead to nine, before a two-pointer tradeoff led to a three by Andrew Wiggins to build the Warriors lead to 115-103. This was the biggest lead of the game for either team. In the final minute, the Lakers pulled James from the game as the lead was too big to overcome. Golden State went on to win 121-114.

Westbrook’s first game as a Laker was a struggle with just eight points on 4-of-13 shooting, while James and Davis combined for 67 points. The star duo were the only Lakers to score double-digit points. Curry had a rough shooting night, but managed a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Jordan Poole had 20 points in just 25 minutes on the court. Los Angeles had better efficiency from the field, but foul trouble, a struggling supporting cast, and a collapse down the stretch ultimately cost them a win on opening night.

 

The Lakers next game will be Friday October 22nd at Staples Center against the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns. The game will begin at 7:00 PM PT and can be seen on ESPN and Spectrum Sportsnet.

 

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 – Matt Dobbs – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Matt on Twitter @RecordBowlerFSM

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